16 October 1942 Part 4

16 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West, weak to moderate breeze; cloudy, calm to slight sea; visibility 10 nautical miles; medium-height north-west swell.

0020, Guernsey: V 212/13 arrived with Spinel. 0215, Malo: V 714/08 arrived with night troop convoy from Guernsey–Jersey. 0830, Malo: Alert readiness cancelled. Requests: (1) Schokland, Corona, Karel and two tugs, Guernsey–Malo; (2) night troop convoy Spinel, Guernsey–Alderney. I assign V 209/10 to (1), V 212/13 to (2), afterwards to Cherbourg. 1200, Guernsey: V 209/10 sailed with convoy for Malo.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Corrections to 15 October: Item 1: V 713/02 independently Cherbourg–Alderney, then Gerfried, Schwalbe and Franka convoy Alderney–Cherbourg. Item 2: UJ 1405/16 resting at Cherbourg. Item 3: add Xaver Dorsch; V 212/13 with night troop convoy of 15/16 October Spinel, Alderney–Guernsey. Item 4: Kochelsee instead of Corona. Item 5: add Rob. Müller 8, Guernsey–Malo. Tonnage on 15 October: 9,800 GRT. [This supersedes the 6,800 GRT daily figure and total printed in the previous fortnight’s diary.]

Situation for 16 October: (1) V 713/02 and UJ 1405/16 ready at Cherbourg, no bridge convoy because of weather; (2) V 212/13 night troop convoy of 16/17 October Spinel, Guernsey–Alderney; (3) V 209/10 Schokland, Corona and Karel convoy Guernsey–Malo; (4) V 714/08 finish night troop convoy of 15/16 October Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, ready; (5) V 710/24 ready at Guernsey; (6) M 4605/04/02/01/12 resting at Malo; (7) V 207 compass adjustment and degaussing-loop test at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 2,650 GRT.

Intentions for 17 October: (1) V 713/02 ready at Cherbourg; (2) UJ 1405/16 Cherbourg–Alderney, then Spinel convoy Alderney–Guernsey; (3) V 212/13 convoy Alderney–Cherbourg; (4) V 209/10 and V 714/08 ready at Malo; (5) V 710/24 convoy Guernsey–Malo; (6) 46th Minesweeping Flotilla resting at Malo.

[Times concealed by folded page corner], Guernsey: V 212/13 sailed with Spinel for Alderney. Malo: V 209/10 arrived from Guernsey with convoy. 2030, Malo: Secret teletype from 3rd Security Division orders expedited dispatch of UJ 1405/16 to Lorient. I order them to sail at 0400 on 17 October first to Malo, then continue to Lorient that evening. 2100, Malo: T 4/10/14/19 sailed westward. 2130, Malo: Increased alert readiness ordered. 2315, Alderney: V 212/13 arrived from Guernsey with Spinel, then independently to Cherbourg after releasing convoy.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0561–0564: cover and title page for 16–31 October, followed by original diary pages 2–3. Secret war diary of St Malo Convoy Control Office, headed by Frigate Captain Dr Diederichs, commander of 2nd Patrol-boat Flotilla. Endorsements: enclosure 2 to Commander Security West G 14928 of 2 December 1942 and Naval Group West 4734/42; Naval War Staff stamp 157/43 [overwritten].